“We need to ask you about someone else, honey.”
“Okay, who?” Everly’s eyes met Ronan. Cope could see dark circles under her eyes.
“Courtney, the babysitter from last night,” Ronan pressed a kiss to his daughter’s left temple.
Sighing, Everly climbed into the chair Ronan had vacated. “She was funny. We ate pizza and watched movies.”
Cope knew that wasn’t all Everly had to say about the babysitter. He took a deep breath and bided his time.
“I couldn’t read much about her. Just that she was happy about her classes and becoming a teacher.” Everly looked around the table. “I mean, likesuperhappy. It was the only thought revolving around in her mind.”
“I don’t understand why that’s important,” Fitz said.
“Most people’s minds jump from thing to thing. Right now, Dad is thinking how hungry he is and he’s praying for Uncle Jude’s dumb ass and he’s wondering what the Patriots will do without Tom Brady.”
“Okay, that’s enough of that.” Ronan blushed, obviously ashamed that he’d been caught out by his daughter.
“That’s what I’m trying to explain to Uncle Fitz. It’s not normal to be that focused on one thing. Even when we’re angry or sad, our minds still hop from topic to topic.”
“You think Courtney was purposely keeping school on her mind so that you wouldn’t be able to read what was really going on behind the scenes?” Ten asked.
“Yeah, but that’s not all. There’s one more thing I need to tell you.” Everly sat up straighter. Her eyes looked misty. “Courtney took pictures of us that night.”
“Pictures?” Ronan half-roared. “What kind of pictures?”
Cope knew exactly what Ronan was thinking. Inappropriate pics, the kind that land you in prison and on a sexual offender registry. Jesus, this nightmare just kept getting worse.
“Pics of all five of us on our sleeping bags in front of the television. They were fun sleepover pics like I make Daddy take when everyone stays at our house.”
“You guys take pics like that at our house too,” Fitzgibbon said. “I always send them to Jude and Ronan after all the kids go home. Did anyone get pictures from that night?”
The adults at the table shook their heads no.
“I’m so sorry, Dad.” Everly turned around to face Ronan. “I should have told you sooner, but I forgot with Uncle Jude being gone.”
Ronan wrapped his arms around his six-year-old. “It’s okay, honey. No one’s mad. Is there anything you can tell me about Courtney now? Where she is or what she’s doing?”
“She’s at the library. A big one. Not the one went go to for story time. There’s a lot of people her age around.”
“The library at Salem State.” Cope was out of his seat.
“Can you see anything around her, like tables or desks or couches?” Ronan asked.
“She’s sitting at a table near big windows and she’s eating chips.” Everly smiled up at Ronan who’d started to laugh. “Does that help?”
“It sure does.” Ronan smacked a kiss to Everly’s cheek. “There’s only one section of the library that allows food and it’s near the floor to ceiling windows at the back of the building, which looks out over the quad. Thank you, honey!”
“Welcome.” Everly hopped off his lap and ran back into the living room.
“Go,” Ten said. “I’ll be here with the kids. Stay in touch. Got it?”
“Got it.” Ronan agreed. “Call if Jude comes back or if Everly sees anything else.”
Ten nodded. “Don’t you dare go easy on that bitch. We welcomed her into our lives and all she did was hurt us.”
Ronan grinned at his husband. “Have I told you lately that you’re the best husband ever?”
“Not lately, but I already knew that.” Ten waggled his eyebrows. “Go get her.”
